Defense : A New Setback for Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Pérez

In its quest to bolster Real Madrid’s defense and address the team’s backline instabilities, Florentino Pérez has just received some bad news. While Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich’s left-back, appeared on track to join Los Blancos next summer, recent developments in his case have seriously complicated Madrid’s plans.

According to Sky Sports Germany, Bayern Munich has made significant progress in extending Davies’ contract, which is set to expire in 2025. The Bavarian club, determined to keep hold of their Canadian star, is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the player. Negotiations, described as positive, have covered key financial terms, and both sides appear optimistic about an imminent signing.

Alphonso Davies, who had been pursued by Real Madrid and even Manchester United, is said to have agreed to compromise on his salary demands to remain in Munich. According to Kerry Hau, an official announcement could come before Christmas, sealing the left-back’s future far from Madrid.

A Madrid Priority in Jeopardy

This news is a significant blow for Real Madrid, which saw Davies as the ideal successor to Ferland Mendy, who has struggled in recent months. Despite their efforts to lure the Canadian star, Florentino Pérez will now need to revise his plans and identify alternative targets to strengthen a position that has become critical.

🚨🔴 Excl | FC Bayern have made significant progress regarding a contract extension with Alphonso #Davies beyond 2025 ✔️

Negotiations are ongoing and positive, key figures already discussed. But some more details need to be clarified.

The focus is on a new long-term contract.… pic.twitter.com/kex7baVuZD

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) December 5, 2024

Fran García has shown recent progress, but the inconsistent performances of Ferland Mendy and the lack of a long-term solution on the left remain concerning. On the right side, the situation isn’t much better, with Lucas Vázquez struggling to establish himself as a reliable full-back.

A Rare Commodity in the Market

The likely removal of Davies from Real Madrid’s plans highlights the difficulty of finding top-tier full-backs on the transfer market. While in central defense, options like Raúl Asensio have adequately covered for Eder Militao’s injury, the flanks remain an unresolved issue.

With this setback, Florentino Pérez will need to act quickly to avoid jeopardizing Real Madrid’s ambitions, already weakened by defensive issues this season. The coming weeks will be crucial in identifying the club’s next transfer targets.